Pep Guardiola points finger over Erling Haaland treatment ahead of Arsenal showdown

Manchester City brag Pep Guardiola admits Erling Haaland has to look aft himself with the striker getting nary extortion from referees arsenic defenders effort to halt him

Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland has to look aft himself due to the fact that helium gets nary extortion from Premier League referees.

Manchester City’s Golden Boot victor was warned by Arsenal defender Gabriel that helium volition beryllium “waiting for him” astatine the Emirates aft the brace waged a moving conflict successful the 2-2 gully past September.

Haaland launched the shot astatine the backmost of the Brazilian’s caput aft John Stones’ precocious equaliser - and helium past told Gunners brag Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” arsenic the teams near the pitch. But City brag Guardiola is amazed that the ice-cool Norwegian doesn’t retaliate much often aft being targeted by defenders.

Guardiola said: “I americium amazed however Erling tin power his emotions due to the fact that with each enactment he’s pulled and he’s pulled - and the referee is ever ‘play on, play on.’

“How galore times does it happen? And helium ne'er complains. He controls himself. So talking of a absorption successful 1 crippled is not real. He behaves incredibly well. Erling stands up. He knows it’s going to hap due to the fact that the Premier League is that way. You person to basal up and continue, continue, proceed and support your position.

“It’s ever what helium has done. So, for 1 game, americium I going to adjudicate connected what he’s done? Come on, I don’t bargain it. I’m not saying acheronian arts. I ne'er utilized that word. Everyone tin bash immoderate they privation but the referee has to intervene erstwhile it’s not fair. That’s wherefore he’s the referee.

“The crippled (against Arsenal) was affectional for Erling and it’s not casual erstwhile you person 90 minutes and Gabriel and the cardinal defenders propulsion him and hug him and hug him and buss him, and these kinds of things. At the end, helium had to react. Arsenal is simply a carnal squad - successful a bully mode successful galore aspects - and astatine the extremity what happen, done the emotions, happened.

"But listen, we cannot interest astir the subject of Erling. It’s the defenders that propulsion Erling. He doesn’t propulsion the defenders. It’s the defenders who make the problems with Erling.”

Arsenal were reduced to 10 men astatine the Etihad erstwhile Leandro Trossard was sent off, but were capable to frustrate City by employing immoderate dubious methods earlier Stones levelled astatine the death.

Guardiola refused to criticise Arteta, the antheral who spent three-and-a-half years arsenic the City manager’s adjunct earlier becoming Gunners’ boss. But helium did suggest that his players merit recognition for playing the crippled the close way.

Guardiola said: “I deliberation we are an incredible, unthinkable just play squad - sometimes excessively much. But we person occurrence that way. I volition support my squad and my players but I cognize my players and however they behave. They behave decently and I volition support that. With the different concern it is up to the referee to determine what to do.

“Of people I volition kick and springiness my sentiment connected things, but I deliberation we person been so, truthful incredibly well-behaved - successful and aft the game, with referees, with statements, with the Premier League. There is nary uncertainty astir that.”

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